Matcha magic: the health benefits of green tea

In China, there are nearly as many varieties of green teas as there are towns. Today, green tea is by far the world’s favorite and has held it’s position in the spotlight of herbal brews since 600 B.C. when it was first used for medicinal purposes.

The health benefits of green tea are nothing new. And Japan, as well as the United States, share similar sentiments, yet different approaches, to incorporating it’s exceptional restorative properties into daily life.

From powder to bottle, green tea (or matcha) is the essence of the Japanese diet. And there is certainly a reason for that. Adopted from China by Zen Buddhist monks, green tea has been used medicinally and traditionally for over 4,000 years. In modern Japan, it is a compliment to any meal and the point of reverence at Japanese tea ceremony. With it’s naturally bitter flavor, green tea is often paired with a small sweet and is often used to flavor many different kinds of sweets, drinks, and even liquors, including Suntory's Zen liquor.

For Americans, green tea sits at the congested intersection of an ever-growing fad for new age health and a blur of Eastern medicine that is often exploited by overpriced self-help poseurs and your yoga instructor. Everything from green tea scented lotions, potions and the latest Starbucks frappuccino is a way for American consumers to ensure a sense of spiritual harmony because they are believably closer to this unknown elixir of the Far East.

In either case, the health benefits are at the real crux of this miraculous drink. Nationality and consumer habits aside, if green tea is in the diet, chances are it’s doing some good. Headaches and depression are assuaged with a daily dose. And recent research indicates that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells as well as lowers cholesterol levels. The real zinger is how helpful it is to dieters. One cup a day can expedite the fight over fat. Lest we forget it's powers against tooth decay. Like a true crime-stopper, you will be protected against bacteria that cause dental plaque as well as food poisoning.

The "secret" of matcha is that it is replete with catechin polyphenols, in particular epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This is a powerful anti-oxidant that ultimately kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue and helps decrease the risk of abnormal blood clots by stabilizing a suitable balance between good and bad cholesterol. Magic you say? It's matcha!

If green tea continues it’s popularity in both the American and Japanese marketplace, it will undeniably procure a healthier human being. And after a period of continuous imbibery, matcha drinkers could even compete as the most valued organ donors. A green tea lover’s insides will be so pristine it will look like a sparkly matcha wonderland with green tea waterfalls and powder sprinkling from the skies onto all the healthy tea-loving children below.